BrianHarer.com

Interview with the Reporter

Did you conceal your microphone from Harer?

If the mic were stuffed under your clothes, the sound would be muffled. So, why don't you just let us hear the tape? What are you hiding?

With the incorrect findings of this trial, I am legally prohibited even from disclosing the contents of the recording. ....If it exists. However, there's a recent case, that of conte2006.com, who published the now famous video of Massachusetts State Police searching Paul Pechonis' home without a warrant on charges that were dismissed. Due to this, you myay finally get to hear the Harer recording...if it exists.

If it exists?

Yes.

What did you do to draw Harer's attention?

Now you're talking like a Prosecutor! Why don't you ask "What did you do to make Harer be a fascist fool and break a series of laws including perjury?" Who's got the gun and power here?

Apparently, you have some power. It sounds like Harer's scared.

I have the power of truth, and the will to use it. The notion that I made him do anything is absurd. Anyway, I composed and shot a single exposure of the scene, including Harer and Riel from about 20 feet. It was a bad shot. (Harer's not very attractive, you know.) I would not have published it, but his bizarre behavior made him newsworthy.

A bad shot?

I thought so at the time, yes. Okay...with a Single Lense Reflex camera, (almost all 35mm. cameras are SLR's,) you see before and after the exposure. During the shot, the mirror rises up against the prism to expose the film to the focused light, and the viewfinder goes black. I thought at the time it was a dog, (and I was correct.) I published it only after Harer misbehaved, possibly criminally. You'd be surprised how hard it is to find an authority who will investigate allegations of cop misconduct! Vicky Riel really sounds like she's lying and I think her trial recording deserves the public's attention.

What did you do then, after the bad shot?

I lowered the camera to make eye contact with the officers. This technique often helps subjects overcome camera anxiety, and you can see them better, especially with such a wide lense, which amplifies optical distance. It's more comforting, more natural when the subject sees your face and not a big round lense. This is why Twin Lense Reflex cameras are prized for facilitating eye contact with the subject as you shoot.(even at the expense of an inverted, reversed and dimmer image!) I don't like to make people look bad, especially people I'll probably have to work with in the future. I wanted to offer them an opportunity to compose themselves.

It sounds like you know a bit about cameras.

I've built my own cameras, and a couple of dark rooms and I've taught photography. I trained with Stuart Klipper and JoAnn Verburg (both of Minneapolis.) In fact, Mrs. Verburg shot a photo of me that showed at the Guggenheim, in New York. Verburg worked for Dr. Edwin Land, the Polaroid inventor, and I think she got Elsa Dorfman (Massachusetts) started on the huge Polaroid boxes. I think Klipper still uses the extremely specialized Linhof Technorama. I really like working with view cameras, which can do tricks like focal plane tilts and perspective correction. I know my gear, but I do not claim to be a great photographer. Oh, here's one I did with a view camera...a Calumet 4X5 on Plus-X pan film. It's a famous balanced rock. And here are more of my photos. My proudest shot in national print media is of Granny D. It was in the esteemed Utne Reader. I cofounded a magazine in West Virginia too. FreemanZ.com has my political photography. But really, my first love is Radio. Oh...Nantucket's Claudia Kronenburg's work is pretty impressive, too. I had a huge crush on Claudia in high school. She's awesome.

Do you photograph lots of Police?

Yes, hundreds, perhaps thousands, because I cover a lot of demonstrations. No problem with police in Quebec, Washington D.C., Boston, New York City, and many towns. No problem. The crooks said I hid my mic and picked on the poor little defenseless MBTA Police to entrap them somehow.

And what about the MBTA in particular?

Well, since Harer's crimes, I have talked with hundreds of folks about this. The MBTA Police are widely disrespected. They have a disturbing history of bad behaviour. Some of this scandal is to be detailed in mbtapolice.org.

Have you ever had problems with police while reporting?

Once this jackass who was working for, I think, Boston Municipal police, who are generally quite decent, (you know who you are...you jackass!) he shoved a camera right in my face. I know he had no photographic cause to do that. He was trying to rattle me. Some pigs think that's their job. Then if someone goes off, they blame the victim. Sound familiar? Anyway, I photographed him back. Later on he tried to frighten me by saying he was going to take my photo to the FBI personally. I was pretty insulted by this intimidation attempt, so I indicated with a gesture about why I thought he wanted my picture.

A gesture?

Yes. I indicated that he wanted to be alone with my picture and, well ...to ...to touch himself ...if you take my meaning. And I still believe it's true.

Isn't that asking for trouble?

Look, what is this, Soviet Russia? I spoke my mind, that's all. Intimidating me from my right to practice journalism IS a crime. He was committing a crime, and I expressed myself. I didn't complain, or file charges like a crybaby. I didn't try to ruin his life, like crybaby Brian. Anyway, they all got a laugh out of it, and we all went home safe and sound. Now, look at the mess Harer's caused to me and to himself and Officer Riel... Compare his insanity to how other cops deal with a camera. Is SWAT/Homeland Security trained to avoid public accountability, even at such a cost? I now believe they are, and recent history, including press prohibitions in flooded Louisiana confirm this. Wait until bad weather hits your area and you can find out for yourself if the truth's that important to you.

So you're an excitable boy?

Yeah, no doubt. But unlike Brian Harer, I play by the rules, and I don't make something outta nothing. I don't needlessly attack someone's livelihood, reputation, security, and status. I don't do concealed recording because I don't know all the legal ins and outs of it. (Well, now I know a lot more, and I was correct...It's a foolish practice, and your Government's doing it.) If Harer didn't see the mic, what kind of cop is he? That's his problem, not mine. My job is make the mic plainly visible, and I did. Maybe it's his tiny shades. I tried on a pair like he wore, and couldn't see a thing.

So what's on the recording?

I can't say at this point, whether a recording exists. But while I had my mic in hand, he came over, threatening that he could sue me for reporting on a public demonstration. I interviewed him, Mic-of-Dukakis in hand. I tried to state his badge number and ask him what law he was threatening me with. Based even on his own idiotic affidavit, the Persecutor should have charged him, not me. David Bradley's a weasel.

Have you ever made a complaint to police about conduct?

I took a snapshot of an (MBTA) Officer on duty. He went apeshit, leaning into my face, saying "Keep it up buddy!" I reminded him that several of my friends were in the area, and he was out of line. I phoned headquarters and made an unofficial complaint. (I prefer to raise minimal trouble) The man there tried, at first to put me on the defensive, but I didn't allow it. He agreed this was misconduct, and promised to fix the problem.

What is it about the MBTA Police and picture taking?

I'm not sure. I hear they have a vague and poorly announced policy banning pictures on the 'T.' After the Harer incident, I photographed nearly every policeman (and woman) I saw for several months. My results were that real police didn't give a rats ass, or they just chatted with me...like normal people. But MBTA Police and private security guards tend to go nuts when photographed in public. Incidentally, I was a Pinkerton man so I know the security industry all too well.

Have you had any other trouble from "T-Police?

Yes, aside form Harer, they have hassled me twice. Harer apparently lied to them, and they seem to have it in for me. I was threatened with arrest (without cause) while watching them searching a T Patron. Once I accompanied a stranger in distress. He seemed drugged or in medical need. I was worried he might have been having a diabetic insulin reaction or something. Anyway, I sat with him in case he needed help. Eventually I figured he was just having a bad trip of some sort.

And What Did the MBTA Police do?

The Traincop's point was the usual, to let me know they had me marked. He asked whether I was recording him. Maybe the whole thing was a setup. I guess they have to do something with all those Homeland Security powers and tools.

How did Harer lie to the other MBTA Police?

I'm guessing he wasn't man enough to admit he missed or ignored my handheld mic, so he spewed bullshit that I'm a weasel who uses hidden mics, just like he lied at trial. He doesn't seem very bright. I feel he's a liability to the force, and probably another Boston nepotism hiring.

You were a pinkerton Man? So, how would you describe the security business?

Some are good folks just earning a living A lot of them are total douchebags. A number of them are power-tripping jerkoffs, bad-cop wannabees. Lots of booze and drugs and small time scamming, like drinking and sleeping on the job, frauding the key-punch time clock guards use to 'prove' when rounds were made. Bosses would issue illegal orders, like racist actions. Pinkerton even ordered me to lie to their clients.

Lie? About what?

I was ordered to lie about my experience so the client felt they weren't getting a young kid. "Tell them you've worked with us for two years." I was eighteen. Do the math.

So you've been in a uniform. What was that like?

I hated it. Everybody has some attitude. Either they want to push you around, or they hate you because they think we're all the same, or they think we're all bumholes like Brian Harer. Working at the Harvard Square CVS store, I was pressured to practice racial discrimination, which I refused to do.